Here we go again!

Yesterday, as Chris has mentioned, we went to see the Oncologist and to have bloods taken.  We were called into see the phlebotomist first, who took one look at my PICC line and told me she couldn't take blood from there and that I'd have to wait for a nurse to do it.  We sat back in the main waiting area to, well, wait.  My name came over the tannoy to go to the clinic area. So, bloods would have to wait, we were to see the Oncologist first.  I hadn't seen this lady before (I'd seen a few on the ward), Dr Williams - she's one of Dr Newman's (my consultant) team.  We discussed my admission, bloods, nausea, sore mouth and the solutions that Dr Newman had suggested.  It seems I'm on a really strong chemo regime.  It's all calculated on your height and weight - no wonder I'm on a strong dose!!  Dr Williams wasn't keen on reducing the dose, so we'll wait and see if the extra medications that she's prescribed will do the job.  I've got a longer course of 1 of the anti sickness meds and another to take after that has finished.  She's also prescribed a single injection which should last until the next session.  This is the one that should stimulate the bone marrow into making white cells quicker. So, fingers crossed I have a better experience than last time!

We were then taken to the Chemo Suite as that was the only place where a nurse could take bloods from my PICC.  They were busy, so an Assistant Practitioner took over.  She was supposed to be showing someone who hadn't done it before, but things didn't quite go according to plan - par for the course so far!  Try as she might, she couldn't get the syringe to feed any blood through.  It was flushing ok (fluid was going into the vein), but it just wouldn't draw any blood out.  I stood, lay, coughed (??) and sat, but nothing.  Here we go again thought I!  Eventually, she gave up and had to go in on the back of my wrist with a butterfly needle, but she got it first time!  So now I'm wondering if the PICC's still ok. Apparently this can happen, it can work 1 time, then not the next.  Well, we'll find out tomorrow, won't we??!!  After that was done, we had to wait for the blood results to see if Friday's session was a goer.  The message about the bloods came back ok, so we settled to wait for the meds.  We waited and we waited, eventually Chris decided to go and ask.  Good job he did, as they hadn't received the script!  The pharmacist went to ask Dr Williams, who said she was still waiting for some more of the tests to come back (my liver bloods had previously shown a few problems, probably due to the chemo).  Anyway the upshot was that I didn't need the extra meds immediately and could wait to pick them up on Friday!  You live and learn....

Mum arrived late last night, so the fridge is now full again!!  We had a busy afternoon after a lazy morning.

In between taking and picking up from college and school, we went to 1 surgery and picked up my med certificate, then had a pub lunch and went to the surgery where I work to drop the certificate off.  It was lovely seeing some of the girls.  Everyone looked really well considering the realities of working in a very busy GP surgery. I'm just sorry I'm not there to help out.  I wore my blue scarf with a knot on the side, which seemed to go down well (I'm convinced people are just being kind - wait 'til I go commando!).  A brief visit and we were off on our next assignment.

Talking of scarves.....you know I wrote on a previous post that Auntie M had sent some knitted scarves?  Well, we had a play around with them tonight.  Luckily, she rang and with Mum on the phone giving me instructions, I managed to do it right (Mum had tried last night, but I looked like I had a tea cosy on my head!!).  See what you think......

another one to add to my wardrobe!

It's really comfy and Chris prefers it to the cotton scarf.  I may well wear this one to chemo tomorrow!!

Ironically, today is probably the best I've felt since the last session, shame it'll go downhill from tomorrow (yes, glass is always half empty)!  However, with my extra meds, it may be better (learning the half full approach)!

It's my biggest boys 16th birthday tomorrow and all being well, we'll go out for a meal early evening.  I really need to make this happen as his Cornish Pirates home shirt hasn't arrived yet!

So for now, wish me luck (I know you do, I can't help being touched that so many people care - thank you).